Automotive industry to dominate the gantry robot market during the forecast period

Automotive industry to dominate the gantry robot market during the forecast period

In the automotive sector, gantry robots are used for various applications. For payloads exceeding 350 Kg, gantry robots are used to move heavy items such as an engine block from one processing area to the other. Other handling applications include manipulating buttons for seats and mechanisms to regulate a driver’s force exerted on gas pedals.

Gantry robots are being used in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) for both handling and assembly of wheels and tires. Articulated robots attached to gantry robots are also used for welding and painting applications. Due to the large scale of automation in the automation industry worldwide, the gantry robot market for this sector will continue to the largest market

APAC to hold the largest share of the gantry robot market by 2025

APAC is expected to hold the largest share of the global gantry robot industry in 2020 and is also projected to increase its share in 2025 further. China is set to be the largest contributor to the region. This is because China has the largest automotive industry in the world and also has a large electrical and electronics industry. China does not solely rely on foreign gantry robot manufacturers but also has several small regional companies offering locally made gantry robots. Other countries in the region such as Thailand and India, are expected to have high growth for gantry robots as they are quickly adopting manufacturing robots and automation in various industries.

Gantry robots can also be reconfigured easily, thus mounting brackets, actuators, drives, and controls can be changed depending on the application. Hence, gantry robots not only provide customizability for a rapidly evolving industry but also makes it possible for smaller companies to adopt robotics and automation due to its lower cost compared to other industrial robots. With a gantry system, a basic system can be initially purchased and then be customized later as requirements change, reducing initial investment. This presents a growth opportunity for gantry robots as the need for automation in the manufacturing industries further increases in the future.

Handling application using gantry robots to maintain the highest share during the forecast period

Gantry robots are ideal for handling a wide variety of payloads from light payloads, weighing just a few kilograms, to heavy payloads exceeding 3,000 Kg. One of the biggest advantages of gantry robots handling heavy payloads is that they can be carried over very long distances while maintaining repeatability. For instance, gantry robots are often used to carry engine blocks of semi-finished vehicle assembly to various sections of a manufacturing facility. For light payloads, gantry robots are utilized for pick and place and palletizing; for instance, IC palletizing in electronics manufacturing. Due to the versatility and wide range of use of gantry robots in handling applications, they have the largest share of the market.